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Thursday, April 30, 2015

Interview with MG mystery/fantasy author Mindy Mymudes

Mystery/fantasy
author Mindy Mymudes is in the house today, chatting a bit about her newest dog
tale, Tillie’s Tale with MuseItUp Publishing.

During her virtual book tour, Mindy will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and
Noble (winner’s choice) gift card to a lucky randomly drawn winner. To be
entered for a chance to win, use the
form below. To increase your chances of winning, feel free to visit her other tour stops and enter there, too!

Bio:

Mindy
Mymudes sort of hobbles after the English Springer spaniels that make up the
Muddy Paws Pack. They live in a small den in Milwaukee, WI. She insists she is
alpha, even as the dogs walk all over her. She hunts, cleans the den and keeps
them entertained. When she can escape the pack, she enjoys digging in dirt,
listening to audiobooks, and weaving the antics of the pack into stories. The
pack has been top ranked in many areas, just proving how smart they are, she
tends to get in their way. The alpha male, Tall Dude, just shakes his head and
stays out of the way. She somehow managed to get a Bachelor’s Degree in
horticulture and a Master’s Degree in population genetics. She can’t balance
her checkbook.

Welcome, Mindy. Please tell us about
your current release.

George
is back, telling the world about the hazards of poultry ghosts, a bit of
history from the early 20th century, and how even bullies can learn
to be kind. This is in addition to his duties as the world’s best basset hound
familiar, teaching his Girlpup Karly about the in’s and out’s of being a green
witch. This time, though, his newest packmate, the puppygirl basset, Tillie, is
helping him. Sort of.

What inspired you to write this book?

This
is really a continuation of true stories collected from the Muddy Paws Pack
over the last 20 years. I had a dog that climbed trees. Another climbed a
ladder to the roof to steal a roofer’s sandwich. I just needed a way to hook
the scenes together. While I started the book, I assumed it was about English
Springers. Instead, about three pages in, a basset hound stuck his nose in my
face and told me that Springers were too stupid to teach a witch-in-training.
Obviously it was a perfectly designed basset hound. In fact, it was himself. He
then introduced himself as George. He’s been a thorn in my side ever since.

Excerpt from Tillie’s Tale:

“Wrrrrttttle.”

Tillie’s
tail is spinning in circles. She’s staring at a filmy thing sitting on the
steps of an old, rough-brick building. I know it’s really a large Peeps’ den,
but since it’s bad to be in the dog house, I assume it’s bad to be in a house.
Why don’t they just call it a den if houses are so bad? From the smelltaste of
cooking, Peeps, dust, skin, and the other stuff Peeps like, there are many
small dens inside. Tillie “wrrrrrtttles” again and adds a soft “wuff.” Her
front goes down into a play bow. The thing she’s trying to get to play is
shimmery and clear, with thick and thin spots swimming on the surface.

The
next story in the Magical Drool Mysteries is Phoebe’s Pause (you might notice a trend here: George Knows, Tillie’s Tale,
Phoebe’s Pause. I’m running out of body parts). George is trying to get his
girlfriend, a basset having a bad hair lifetime, and is put on a diet.

When did you first
consider yourself a writer?

If
you talk to George, he’ll tell you I’m his secretary, and not writer.
Sometimes, I think he’s right.

Do you write full-time? If so, what's
your workday like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?

I
can’t work anymore, so you’d think I could write all day. Unfortunately, I’m
disabled, and sitting at the computer for any length of time hurts. I do my
physical therapy, take care of 300 some odd plants (yeah, still a
horticulturist), and of course, there are the dogs. I help to do PR for my
friend Faith Hunter, of Jane Yellowrock fame. She helped launch Let’s Talk
Promotions. My partner, Audrey Salick (Drey’s Library), has a very busy life,
so we’re more of a niche for urban fantasy.

On
good days, I write. It means I’m the slowest writer ever, and the mysteries
aren’t even that long. At least they are quality. George Knows won a gold medal
for Children’s books, grades 4th thru 6th.

What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?

I
prefer to listen to hard rock when the scene is tense, otherwise I listen to
alternative. Sometimes I’ll switch to classical.

As a child, what did you want to be when
you grew up?

I
thought for sure I’d be a geologist. Jeweler. Hmm, no, a mining engineer. Ended
up with a Bachelor’s degree in horticulture and a Master’s in population
genetics. It was close.

Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?

George
really isn’t just a kid’s book. He appeals to everyone who has had a pet. Of
course our pets are smarter than us. After all, who does the cleanup, hunting,
and grooming? Hint: it isn’t them. They’re curled up, sleeping.

George eats stew. I tend to write long hand and then transfer to the computer. That's my first edit. Because it takes me forever to write, by the time I get back to it, I have to rewrite a bunch. So, yes, I do let it stew. Thanks!

I'm listed!

Blog Tour Partner - Goddess Fish

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About Me

I'm a NH native and love New England. I love writing about the region, exploring it on foot, on my bicycle, and in my car. There are so many small communities and fun and interesting people in this area, that I could be here a lifetime and not do all it is I want to do. :)

I'm a moderator at The Writer's Chatroom that hosts live chats with guest authors on Sunday nights 7-9PM EST. Join the e-mail list to get notifications of upcoming guests, then stop in and join the conversation!